The Ruff Report: The most terrifying time of the year for pets

Some
pets will anxiously pace around the house in fear, others will lose
bladder or bowel control from the fright and many others will simply
run away from home - never to be seen again by their families - to
get away from the explosions and flashes.

The
cause of this irrational behavior is fireworks season, the most
terrifying time of the year for cats and dogs. And your pet's chances
of getting lost is at its height as many will runs miles away from
home in an attempt to find solace, animal welfare officials warn.

The
American Animal Hospital Association advises pet parents to take
precautions to deal with the irrational behavior, anxiety and fear
that their dogs and cats are likely to display during Independence
Day celebrations.

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“[Fireworks]
can be very traumatizing for pets, especially dogs,” association
President Michael Andrews states in a media release. “More animals
are lost or injured during this time of year. But there are common
sense precautions you can take to ensure your pet’s comfort and
safety, and your own peace of mind.”

Julie
Bedford, an animal behaviorist with The Blue Cross, a pet charity in
Britain, says part of the reason why pets become so frightened is
that the noise from fireworks creates an environmental change.

"The
flashes and bangs of fireworks create a massive change to the usual
environment of a pet, which is deeply unsettling and scary for them,"
Ms. Bedford states in a media release. "They will try and run
away from the noise or find somewhere to hide and feel secure."

Pet
parents must avoid overreacting and over-comforting their dogs and
cats, Ms. Bedford says. "When pets are anxious or distressed, it
is instinctive for their owners to cuddle and comfort them, but this
can stress the animal even more because they will think that their
owners are worried too. The best thing owners can do is to let their
pet settle in a chosen den and remain as normal as possible."

The
American Animal Hospital Association offers these tips:

Never leave your pet unattended. If you will be away from home, make
arrangements to board him at your veterinarian’s office or a
professional kennel.

Keep your pet inside in a basement or another room where outside
noise can be minimized. Turn on a radio and provide his favorite chew
toy and blanket.

Play with your pet to keep him preoccupied when the noise is the
greatest. Resist the temptation to physically comfort him if he is
afraid. This may reinforce his fear.

Make sure that your pet is wearing an identification tag should he
become lost, and make sure visitors keep doors closed.

If you take your dog for a walk, keep him on a leash.

Consult with a veterinarian about medications that may help relieve
your pet’s stress.

Never shout at a frightened pet because this will increase his
stress.

Praise your pet when he is calm.

Check your pet regularly and if you can, stay with him during the
fireworks. Your presence is probably the most important calming
influence for your pet.

------

The Ruff Report is a column that appears on MySetterSam.com,
a blog written by Joseph A. Reppucci, a retired editor from The Patriot
Ledger in Quincy, Massachusetts. Mr. Reppucci worked as a reporter and editor on major daily
newspapers in the Boston area for more than 30 years. He is the author
of the book, The Hunt of Her Life,
a heartwarming story about his once-in-a-lifetime rescue dog. Find it on Createspace.com and Amazon.com.

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ABOUT THE PUBLISHER: Joseph A. Reppucci of Lexington, Massachusetts, worked as a reporter and editor on major daily newspapers in the Greater Boston area for more than 30 years, most recently for the The Patriot Ledger of Quincy, a GateHouse Media newspaper. GateHouse Media also publishesThe Enterpriseof Brockton. He is a graduate of Lexington High School and of Suffolk University in Boston, where during his senior year he was the editor in chief of The Suffolk Journal, a student newspaper which won acclaim for its quality from the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism.